r/brokenankles

The first day is the only day I really felt pain. It was a throbbing pain that lasted until around the second day. I haven’t walked on it yet but I think it’s just my brain not letting me. I have put weight on it and it doesn’t hurt too bad but it just feels tight because of the swelling. I am able to move my toes up and down but not back and forth. There isn’t a lot of moving the entire foot though. I don’t have enough money to get it looked at because my insurance isn’t the best. I got crutches and have been using those.

I broke my ankle 11 days ago. was initially seen at an urgent care and then the next day at an orthopedic office. My doctor is very nice but obviously extremely conservative.

He insisted on putting me in a plaster cast one week after he saw me which I had done yesterday. I asked for a boot but he said that is not an option and that I am not allowed to bear any weight whatsoever for six full weeks.

They did another x-ray yesterday and everything looks great, no displacement and my joint space looks good and everything is stable. He stated this does not require surgery.

I have done a lot of research and have even been reading other Orthopedic groups websites and information and I am finding that a lot of doctors allow their patients to bear weight on these fractures as soon as they are able to tolerate it. also many are stating that they put their patients in a boot versus a cast. I have read several accounts from patient experiences stating the same.

I've also read studies that being fully casted and bearing no weight can actually result in a longer recovery because of muscle atrophy and stiffening of the joints.

I would love the opinion of any other doctors, physical therapists, or people's personal experiences. I think I'm trying to stay positive and looking for hope.

I am not going to deviate from my doctor's recommendations nor am I looking for medical advice but I am interested in other perspectives.

First shower standing up

First time driving

Cleared to move from boot to lace up brace

This community has been a lifeline during this adventure!

UPDATE:

Week 4 post op ORIF. WBAT in boot. Work on ROM.

Getting back to normal!🦶🏻🦵🏻 🌟💫😊👍

Debating on keeping a cane/crutch near by as I get back to walking. Doc says those are meant to prevent you from falling. B

Hello fellow ORIF friends! I am 6 weeks post op and was told by PT yesterday to go straight to ortho after my session to get my incision checked due to increased pain and drainage. The doctor on duty was not my usual but said he did think I had an infection. He took pictures and told me my normal doc would give me a call when they open this morning. My question is: Has anyone else experienced this and how did it affect your recovery? I did go back and look at my xray and noticed there’s not much tissue between the plate and my skin on the side thats not healing. Im a little worried they could recommend another surgery to remove hardware if it doesn’t heal but I’m no doctor haha! PT was brutal yesterday just because of the incision and I feel I could do more if it wasn’t for this issue 😩

I did this during a softball game on Saturday, foot slipped in a muddy spot and got stuck when I went to make a jump throw. I did *not* hear a pop, but did feel like my ankle “expanded” if that makes sense. I tried to stay mobile and walk it off, and I didn’t feel too much pain maybe 30 minutes after it happened and was able to limp around without much issue, so felt like I avoided a fracture for sure.

I have been icing/resting (RICE) as much as possible but I do have a job I just started where I’m on my feet basically all day, which I’m sure is why I’m struggling to get the swelling down. I have a boot coming in tomorrow that I’m gonna wear for at least the next 4 weeks.

I really don’t feel much pain/physically feel that bad. It’s really just going down slopes/going up and down steps that is hurting me bad. But it just looks so so so bad, way worse than I expected. Playing sports my whole life I’ve rolled ankles plenty of times, but never to this extent.

Scrolling this subreddit has me pretty worried though… I see pictures of ankles that look a lot better than mine and even then the comments on the post express major concern for breaks/grade 3 sprains. What do we think?

Hey everyone. Do you see anything concerning here? I am having intense pain right at the ankle joint (where the tibia meets the talus.) It is an extremely sharp/deep pain and worsens with dorsiflexion and weight bearing. Thank you in advance.